Solid Style

Giorgio Armani8217;s8217;2007-08 autumn-winter collection for men had only greys, as did YSL8217;s collection at their last outing. From Milan to the runways of Paris, the big switch from ultra-glam Boho chic to the subdued sophisticate has happened, and now it8217;s the turn of our desi designers to give high bling a miss. Considering how much we love our zardosis and Swarovskis, it8217;s been quite a turnaround.

At the recently concluded Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week, most designers went for a monochromatic colour palette from Rohit Bal8217;s 8220;koyla8221; charcoals to Aparna Chandra8217;s funky fuchsias, from Deepika Govind8217;s deep reds to JJ Valaya and Tarun Tahiliani8217;s classy blacks, from brothers Shantanu-Nikhil8217;s muddy browns to Dabiri8217;s vibrant golds and silvers. 8220;There8217;s a whole lot you can do with single shades. Go for self-embroidery or tonal embossing, or have lace and net of the same colour to add a hint of glamour. Stress on the silhouettes. Use pleats, ruches, floral motifs to alleviate the monotony, and give a fuller, more layered look. You know, we tend to think of single shades as boring, but dark solid colours are really like a peaceful, silent night, devoid of Christmas trees and twinkling lights. That8217;s harmonious,8221; says Rohit Bal.